The Senate’s action followed a motion raised by Senator Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi) titled: “Urgent Need to Investigate and Halt the Continuous Unwholesome Practice of Chemical Ripening of Fruits in Nigeria.” During plenary in Abuja, Ani sounded the alarm on the growing trend of artificially ripened fruits, calling it a “dangerous deviation from natural ripening methods.”
According to Ani, the natural ripening of fruits enhances taste, texture, and nutritional value. However, vendors are increasingly resorting to harmful chemicals such as calcium carbide, ethephon, and ethylene glycol—substances laced with toxic residues like lead and arsenic—to accelerate the ripening process and improve visual appeal for profit.
“These substances are not just harmful; they are deadly. They can cause cancer, liver and kidney failure, neurological issues, and even death,” Ani warned. “People are unknowingly eating poison masked in the form of ripened fruits.”
The senator also criticised poor enforcement by regulatory agencies, noting that while many countries have banned the use of such chemicals, Nigeria has failed to implement stringent measures.
In a bold legislative move to safeguard public health, the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday summoned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to account for the unchecked use of harmful chemicals by fruit vendors to hasten ripening processes across the country.
The Senate’s action followed a motion raised by Senator Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi) titled: “Urgent Need to Investigate and Halt the Continuous Unwholesome Practice of Chemical Ripening of Fruits in Nigeria.” During plenary in Abuja, Ani sounded the alarm on the growing trend of artificially ripened fruits, calling it a “dangerous deviation from natural ripening methods.”
According to Ani, the natural ripening of fruits enhances taste, texture, and nutritional value. However, vendors are increasingly resorting to harmful chemicals such as calcium carbide, ethephon, and ethylene glycol—substances laced with toxic residues like lead and arsenic—to accelerate the ripening process and improve visual appeal for profit.
“These substances are not just harmful; they are deadly. They can cause cancer, liver and kidney failure, neurological issues, and even death,” Ani warned. “People are unknowingly eating poison masked in the form of ripened fruits.”
The senator also criticised poor enforcement by regulatory agencies, noting that while many countries have banned the use of such chemicals, Nigeria has failed to implement stringent measures.
In response, the Senate directed NAFDAC’s management to appear before its Committees on Health and Agriculture to provide a detailed report on its current efforts and outline a concrete strategy to combat the crisis. The Senate also tasked the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), with investigating the issue and initiating urgent interventions.
Further resolutions include mandating NAFDAC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify public education campaigns on the dangers of chemically ripened fruits. The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the Nigerian Customs Service were instructed to enforce stricter inspections, particularly on imported fruits such as apples.
In a bid to enhance regulatory deterrence, the Senate Committee on Legal Matters was asked to review existing laws and propose harsher penalties for violators.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio concluded the session by emphasizing the gravity of the issue. “Our fruit markets must not become breeding grounds for toxic substances disguised as fresh produce,” he said. “Protecting the health of Nigerians must remain paramount.”
The Senate’s action is seen as a critical first step in curbing a practice that has raised widespread concern among health experts and consumer rights advocates
